Santorini on a Budget

Santorini on a Budget (5D4N) –

Mention Santorini and images of white painted cliff-side homes with blue domed roofs synonymous with the greek islands immediately materializes. Despite suggestions that a beautiful island like this would cost a bomb to visit, it was really more affordable than what I had initially imagined. Unless you are going for caldara/cliff side views from your bedroom or luxury sunset cruises, it is pretty easy to keep costs low and still enjoy the magnificence of the island. (See budget breakdown below!)

The greeks are really friendly and some of my best memories of Santorini involved walking around aimlessly, meeting and talking to people. The main villages Fira and Oia (pronouced Eee-yar) are great for capturing postcard worthy photographs and are where the majority of white painted houses are at. I chose to stay near the black beaches of Perissa to get away from the crowds (as it wasn’t beach season) and rented an ATV to explore the island. Scooters and cars are also available and I suggest getting one that you’re comfortable with because the attractions can be quite far apart!

Pony rides around Santorini

Black beaches of Perissa

How my towel got ruined. D:

ATV’s are pretty much available for rent everywhere

For the more adventurous, check out Santorini Sea Kayaks for outdoor activities on the island. Did rock climbing and kayaking with them and found the instructors to be really professional and welcoming. Being 3-Star trained, one of the instructors even brought me out to explore the smaller caves around the island during the Santorini South Discovery Intro Tour and invited me subsequently to climb for free during their training sessions. :D :D :D (recommended my elder sister for it and she enjoyed their tour thoroughly. Drop my name and help say hi if you decide to check them out k!)

Natural rock wall near Perissa beach. Routes from 5C to 6A+!

My lovely single white kayak

Lunch is served. Bread, cucumber, olives, nuts, fruits and cheese.

The good people at Santorini Sea Kayaks

Sunsets are also breathtaking and the good news is that it isn’t necessary to book one of the many sunset cruises or dine at expensive restaurants/bars in Fira/Oia to enjoy it. Took my ATV and headed west with some folks from the hostel and had a pleasant picnic above some rocks by the pier. I heard that Oia Castle and Skaros in Imerovigli are awesome for sunsets too!

Sunset by one of the small piers in Santorini

Island-hopping/sunset cruises

Other Possible Things To Do:

– Visit Akrotiri, a Minoan Bronze Age settlement preserved by volcanic ash. I couldn’t do this then cause there were restoration works, so let me know how it goes if you are heading there.

– There’s Emporio village too, where you can step back in time to the 1500s.

– Check out the vineyards around the island too. Santo Wines is the biggest if I’m not wrong!

Getting There:

There are a couple of ways to get there, but I took a ferry from Patras which was close to Athens.